Bucket lists, New Year resolutions, lifelong dreams.

This year is the year to put foundations under the castles that we build in the air and travel more. Making a point to travel – even if it’s for a few days and nearer to home – can undoubtedly lift your spirits, rejuvenate you, adjust that terrible sleeping pattern you’ve been battling with, reduce your stress, and make you feel happier. There’s education in travel as you get to experience different cultures and people.

Here are some of the ‘must see’ travel destinations for ‘24.

Rome

Rome was not built in a day and you’ll also need more than just a day in this beautiful city. Three to four days should suffice to see some of the iconic monuments. Depending on your pace, it might get too hectic if you try to do this circuit in less time. Rome is one of the most expensive tourism cities in southern Europe, owing partly to its high number of tourist attractions.

Tokyo

The land of the rising sun and cherry blossoms, amongst so much else. Japan has seen a massive boom in tourism this year, as the country reopened, and three years’ worth of travellers made their bucket list holiday a reality.

Fourteen days is recommended for the duration of your visit and an average of between $100 – $300 dollars per day will be needed for your expenses.

New York City

Spring and Fall are considered the best months to visit New York City. The Manhattan experience can be enjoyed in five to seven days and there are a lot of sights to take in. From the iconic skylines to cruises and landmarks, New York City gives a fabulous, fast-paced experience for the traveller. It is considered one of the best tourist attractions in the world and it has something new to offer each time you visit.

Sydney

It is recommended that around five days in this city should be enough to take in the best of what the city has to offer.

December to February is summer high season and the peak time for visitors. Summer brings hot, humid days and balmy evenings. March to May and September to November are the best times for festivals and events. June to August is a quieter time to visit.

The Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, The Rock, Royal Botanic Garden, Taronga Zoo, Sydney Tower Eye, Darling Harbour are the main attractions. For a three-week stint, an average of $100 dollars a day would suffice but this won’t include your hotel and transport costs.

Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa’s second-largest city, ranks among the most beautiful in the world. With its larger-than-life mountain overlooking the City Bowl, harbour, white beaches and Robben Island beyond, this is a tourists’ playground.

With no visa requirements for Kenyans travelling to South Africa, 2024 is the perfect time to explore this place that has so much to offer. It’s no surprise that this coastal gem has been voted the best city in the world seven-years-running. It is one of the most affordable holiday destinations and a luxury apartment or a beach villa on the Cape Peninsula suburbs such as Bakoven, Camps Bay, Clifton and Fresnaye are generally safe places to stay. Many upmarket holiday homes have the latest security features.

Lima/ Machu Pichu

The best time to visit Lima, Peru’s capital, would be between December – March, however June- August, which are considered their winter months, sees a great spike in tourists as it’s the driest time to hike to Machu Pichu. Three days in Lima is good enough, but heading to Machu Pichu is far. unfortunately, the Inca citadel, due to its inhospitable location and to conserve the native fauna, doesn’t have an airport, airfield, or heliport.

2024 may bring the best auroras in 20 years

Our sun is reaching the peak of its roughly 11-year cycle, when the northern lights are most visible. The last peak was the weakest in a century – could 2024 make up for it?

When can you see the northern lights in 2024?

Between the autumn and spring equinox (21 September – 21 March), the Aurora lights are at their most frequent. To see the lights, it needs to be dark and cold with as little cloud as possible.

November through to February offer the darkest skies and longer evenings for maximum sky-gazing. The strongest lights tend to appear between 9pm and 2am, though the best sightings often occur between 11pm and midnight.

What are the best places to see the Northern Lights?

1. Tromso, Norway. Based in the heart of the aurora zone in the Norwegian Arctic, the city is widely regarded as one of the world’s best places to see the Northern Lights.

2. Swedish Lapland

3. Reykjavik, Iceland

4. Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland

5. Ilulissat, Greenland

6. Svalbard, Norway

7. Fairbanks, Alaska

This inland city is the closest you can get to the Arctic without actually being there—it’s just two degrees south of the Arctic Circle. In winter, that means the northern lights shine with frequency.

Remember to check for updated travel information and restrictions closer to your travel dates, as circumstances change

• • Check your visa requirements.

• • Purchase travel insurance.

• • Pick your season.

• • Decide how long to travel for

• • Have an itinerary in mind.

• • Learn some basic language phrases wherever you are visiting and learn about the culture.

• • Know your money & take some local currency with you.

• • Buy tickets to popular activities in advance.